1909*
On returning from vacation, I was very much shocked to learn of the sudden death of Phil Avery. Phil died very suddenly on April 13. Full details will be found in the obituary column. The funeral was private, but the following members of the class were present. I am sorry that my name is not in the list as it would have been had I been here: Freddie Carroll, Chester Brett, Allen Newton, "Plum" Leighton, Dick Locke, Bob Holmes, "Wallie" Ross.
I asked Chappelear if he would give me the story on our dues collection so that we might have it for the last issue of the year. He states that he entered 192 subscriptions to the MAGAZINE on behalf of the group and as a result of the initial billing and two follow-up letters he succeeded in collecting $770. 34 remitted dues in full for the five year period; 3 paid for two years; 1 sent $5.00; and 79 remitted only for the current year. Six were good enough to write explanatory notes to "Chap" as to why it would be difficult for them to contribute to the class fund. This left 69 from whom he has been unable to raise a ripple. If some of you fellows who are reading this find yourselves among the 69 will you save "Chap" the trouble of sending further letters and send in at least the year's dues.
As I was on vacation when the Alumni Dinner was held in Boston, I asked "Cad" Cummings if he would report the meeting for me and give me the list of those who attended. As usual Cad was on the job and he has done so well that I am quoting his letter in toto. "I am very glad to report the members of our class that were at the dinner the 12th. What I am sorry to report is that there were so few. The class of 1909 is an enigma to me. We have such a fine bunch of fellows and all of them good Dartmouth men, yet only eight turn out to an annual Boston dinner.
"Wallie Ross, Gordan Weinz, Cad Cummings, Joe Worthen, Lynde Tucker, Phil Chase, Doc Hooker, and Bob Burns. It was good to see Lynde Tucker. We gathered that it was his first appearance since 1927. Since that time he has travelled over a good part of the world, and was proud of having a son who was graduated from Dartmouth in 1936. The boy is now at Harvard Law School. With perfect good nature he had to be brought around to meet his father's classmates, which, I sometimes think, the boys regard as a duty. I did the same thing with my boy Edwin, and think the young lads accept these attentions with a very good grace, though they have their own interests with others of their own age.
Passing Mark
"Phil Chase was in his usual good form. He told Joe Worthen a story of his father, good old 'Tut,' that Joe had not heard before. It seems that Phil had an exam consisting of nine questions. He answered four of them correctly, but missed five. 'Tute' said there should have been ten questions and that under the circumstances he would have to suppose that Phil could have answered the tenth one right; thus he would be compelled to turn his mark in at 51, giving Phil a passing mark in the course.
"Sandy Hooker was in his usual good form. He always has some very up-to-the-minute stories. The best he had to offer was one about the philosophy of the dog. If you have not heard it, get in touch with Sandy, for it is a gem.
"The speakers were fine. The tribute to Craven was moving; Judge Cox was good; President Compton of Tech was humorous, and then serious. McCarter told us something about the various teams, and 'Hoppy' was in rare form. He always holds his listeners to the last word and tells them something that is of real value. "It was a good evening, the only thing lacking was the lack of 'ogers. I would have liked to have seen twenty-eight instead of eight."
Hal Prescott reports as follows on the Alumni Dinner in his part of the country. "The Alumni of Westchester County pulled off a big dinner April 4 at Hotel Roger Smith in White Plains. The Class was represented by Anson McLoud, Herman Dillingham, Frank O'Brien and myself. Anson high-hatted us a bit and sat up at the speakers' table next to Dean Neidlinger who was the speaker of the evening. If it hadn't been for one Mr. Greeley of the Class of '81 and a half a dozen around the 1900's, we would have been the oldest alumni present. It was quite a shock to us to find that out of a group of 150, we were definitely on the aged side."
We hear that Curt Sheldon is not only a good financial man, but still a good politician. On April 10, he was re-elected for another two-year term as City Treasurer of New Britain, Connecticut, which position he has held continuously since he was first elected in 1920. For several years past he, the town clerk, and the controller were endorsed by both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. You have to be doing a pretty good job when you can get this kind of a backing.
Russ Pettengill has just sent out a notice announcing the removal of his general offices and paper laboratories to 1 Old Mill Road, New Hope, Pennsylvania. Pett, as usual has done the job right. His headquarters consists of a five story stone mill built in 1750 and laboratories operated with temperature and relative humidity controlled. He cordially invites all to visit him and assures them all a warm welcome.
I was very happy to have a last minute visit from Moffatt before he left for his return to India. He is sailing on June 28 from San Francisco. Before he leaves, he expects to receive his Ph.D. from the University of Washington; his thesis,—TheUniversities of India. Moffatt states he covered 33 states during his year here and has had the best sabbatical year that he has ever had. He tells me that he came across John Varney who is teaching English in Washington Square College, connected with the New York University, and is doing a swell job at it.
BILL BAILEY '09, A REED HALL TERROR, WAS A SLENDER YOUTH IN HIS COLLEGE DAYS. Now, HE'S A PORTLY CITIZEN OF SIOUX FALLS, S. D.
Secretary, Filene's, Boston, Mass.
Class Agent, 195 Broadway, New York, N. Y.
